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Commander takes responsibility
10/05/2004 19:16 - (SA)
Manama - US general John Abizaid took full responsibility on Monday for the prisoner abuse by his troops in Iraq, but skirted round a direct question about resignation.
"We military commanders are responsible for everything that happens in our area," the head of US Central Command told a media conference.
"My area stretches from Afghanistan to Kenya ... and I'm responsible for the actions of United States military in that area and I believe that I should be held accountable for what happens."
However he did not directly reply when asked if he would resign if the US military command was found at fault.
The US military is preparing for the trial of Specialist Jeremy Sivits in Baghdad on May 19, the first court martial of a soldier over the alleged abuse of prisoners.
The charges relate to Sivits' time as a guard at the Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad, and include "maltreatment of detainees" as well as "failing to protect detainees from abuse, cruelty and maltreatment".
The announcement came as US magazines published graphic new reports of Iraqi prison abuses, including a photo showing a naked man cowering under threat from two US military dogs and witness accounts of beatings and rape.
Seven US guards have been charged with criminal offences in relation to the abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib.
"The terrible events that have taken place at Abu Ghraib prison are isolated incidents done by a few but that subject is under investigation," Abizaid said. "We will take the investigation ... as far as it needs to go.
"I think this particular problem is isolated but we can't conclude there aren't systemic problems that need to be investigated as well. We will correct the system so that abuses like this cannot happen again," he vowed.
"I am deeply disappointed that something like this can happen and as an Arab-American I am deeply disappointed," Abizaid added. - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA
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